My Journey To New Jersey, New Mexico

The guttural voice of the engine consumed my ears as we pulled out from the dock. My grandma and I sat in silence until we reached the first hot spot. As the sun ascended higher into the sky, we soaked up its heat and watched as the ocean soared by. The boat gave way to the current, we baited our lines, and at the captain’s command, we cast into the sea. The crisp salty air filled my lungs as I patiently bobbed my rod. We sat down in the shade, eager for the fish to strike the lines. As we waited, my grandma and I dove deep into conversation.
For the past five years, my grandma has been taking me on what has become our annual deep sea fishing trip. It’s our time to catch up on everything. As usual we talked about school, but eventually ended
My crew and I practiced hiking nature trails, sometimes with bricks in our backpacks to simulate the weight of the gear. Each hike we would increase the distance in order to get as close to Philmont as possible. Although the hikes prepared us for the mileage, I wasn’t sure they would prepare us for the rough Southwestern climate. Compared to the cool wet forests of New Jersey, New Mexico was a desert. The searing heat moved in waves across the landscape with little shade to evade
Our route took us through barren mesas, dry forests, and everything in between. We were able to rest in plenty of places outside of the sun’s glare. Hiking through the mountains was an experience like no other. Waking up with the sun and hiking across the Rocky Mountains was arduous but rewarding. We traveled from campsite to campsite with the landscape constantly changing in front of us. Although the meals of dehydrated food were like soggy cardboard, having my friends with me and enjoying the beautiful environment made up for it. The nature was so preserved and so pure that it was like being in another world. Sitting on a log staring across the lush hills of a secluded valley was on of the most transcendental experiences I have ever had. The cherry on top of it all was hiking to the summit of the Tooth of Time on our last day. We watched the sun rise over everything and saw the curve of the earth on the horizon. Trekking over 110-miles through the Rockies alongside my friends was unforgettable and one of my greatest accomplishments to date. The amount of physical and mental effort I put in in order to be prepared for the trip was tremendous. Being able to say that I achieved a Philmont trek is something I will always be proud